Free Stick Drift Test

Test Your Controller for Stick Drift

Connect a controller, press any controller button and leave both sticks untouched during the measurement.

Press a controller button first

Many browsers do not expose a gamepad until you interact with it after opening the page.

Controller selection

Scan for connected controllers and select the gamepad you want to test. Compatible USB and Bluetooth controllers can be detected through the browser Gamepad API.

Test duration

The automatic resting test can run for 5, 10 or 15 seconds. Ten seconds is the default.

Analogue Stick Visualiser

The live visualisers show the horizontal and vertical position of the left and right analogue sticks. Standard-mapped controllers normally use axes 0 and 1 for the left stick and axes 2 and 3 for the right stick.

Deadzone

The adjustable detection threshold ranges from 0% to 30%. Movement inside the deadzone is treated as normal resting noise, while lower values make the test more sensitive.

Resting Stick Drift Test

Place the controller on a flat surface and do not touch either stick while the test records resting input.

Measured results

Samples

The number of resting-input samples collected during the test.

Left average

The typical resting offset recorded for the left stick.

Left maximum

The largest left-stick offset recorded during the measurement.

Right average

The typical resting offset recorded for the right stick.

Right maximum

The largest right-stick offset recorded during the measurement.

Current deadzone

The threshold used to compare resting movement with acceptable input.

Buttons, triggers and vibration

The live tool also displays reported button values and can request a short vibration test when the connected controller exposes browser haptic support.

Controller Input Stays in Your Browser

This page reads live Gamepad API values only while it is open. Input is not uploaded or saved.

How to Use the Stick Drift Test

1. Connect the controller by USB or Bluetooth.
2. Press any controller button so the browser detects it.
3. Move both sticks around the live visualisers.
4. Place the controller down without touching the sticks.
5. Choose a duration and start the test.
6. Compare the results with your selected deadzone.

What Stick Drift Looks Like

A centred stick should stay close to the middle when untouched. Drift occurs when movement is repeatedly reported away from the centre without input.

Small values can be normal sensor noise. Drift is more likely when the offset repeatedly exceeds the deadzone used by a game.

What the Online Stick Drift Test Checks

The test reads live Gamepad API axis values and compares resting analogue-stick movement with the deadzone you select. It combines a visual position check with an automatic timed measurement for both sticks.

Left-stick centring

Tracks horizontal and vertical values from axes 0 and 1 and shows whether the left stick remains near its neutral centre.

Right-stick centring

Tracks axes 2 and 3 on standard-mapped controllers and highlights movement outside the selected deadzone.

Resting average offset

Calculates the typical magnitude recorded while each stick is untouched, helping distinguish consistent drift from brief noise.

Maximum resting offset

Reports the largest movement detected during the timed test so short spikes are not hidden by the average.

Deadzone behaviour

Lets you change the detection threshold from 0% to 30% and immediately compare live stick movement with that setting.

Buttons, triggers and vibration

Displays reported button values and offers a vibration check when the connected controller exposes browser haptics.

Controller Deadzone Guide

A deadzone is the area around the centre of an analogue stick that a game ignores. There is no universal perfect value: lower settings feel more responsive, while higher settings hide more resting movement.

0%–3% — Very sensitive

Useful for inspecting tiny sensor movement, but normal analogue noise may appear as drift.

4%–7% — Low deadzone

Often used for responsive aiming when a controller centres accurately and consistently.

8%–12% — Balanced starting point

A practical range for general testing and close to the default 10% threshold used on this page.

13%–20% — Higher compensation

Can hide moderate drift, although fine control near the centre becomes less responsive.

21%–30% — Heavy compensation

May make a worn controller usable temporarily but noticeably reduces the available movement range.

Above the game setting — Likely in-game movement

If resting input repeatedly exceeds a game's own deadzone, unwanted camera or character movement is more likely.

Common Signs of Controller Stick Drift

Stick drift can affect different games in different ways because each title applies its own deadzone, response curve and sensitivity.

Camera movement without input

The view slowly rotates or continues moving after you release the right stick.

Character walking by itself

The player character moves, leans or changes direction while the left stick is untouched.

Menu or cursor movement

Selection boxes, radial menus or on-screen cursors move away from the intended position.

Uneven aiming near the centre

Small movements feel different in one direction, or the crosshair resists returning to the same centre point.

Intermittent input spikes

The stick appears centred most of the time but occasionally jumps beyond the expected resting range.

A growing required deadzone

A controller needs progressively larger in-game deadzone settings to prevent unwanted movement.

When to Use a Stick Drift Tester

Run the test whenever you need a repeatable measurement before changing settings, cleaning a controller, requesting a repair or replacing hardware.

When a game moves by itself

Leave both sticks untouched and compare the measured maximum offset with the deadzone used by that game.

After buying a controller

Check centring, full movement, buttons and vibration while the controller is still within the retailer's return period.

After cleaning or calibration

Repeat the same duration and deadzone to see whether resting movement has improved.

Before adjusting game settings

Measure both sticks first so you can choose the smallest deadzone that reliably prevents unwanted input.

Controller and Browser Compatibility

The tester works with controllers that the browser exposes through the Gamepad API. This includes many Xbox, PlayStation, Switch-style, Steam-compatible and generic USB or Bluetooth controllers.

Standard mapping normally places the left stick on axes 0 and 1 and the right stick on axes 2 and 3. Some generic or unusual controllers use a different axis order, so the visualisers may not correspond to the labelled sticks.

What This Test Cannot Diagnose

The page measures values reported to the browser. It cannot inspect internal potentiometers, Hall-effect sensors, springs, solder joints, firmware or physical wear.

It also cannot guarantee how a particular console or game interprets the same controller. Platform calibration, game deadzones, response curves, controller software and wireless conditions can change the result you experience elsewhere.

What Stick Drift Results Mean

The average offset shows typical resting movement. The maximum offset shows the largest movement recorded during the test.

Movement outside the selected deadzone can cause unwanted camera, character or cursor movement in games.

Controller Not Detected or Showing Drift?

Press a controller button

Browsers often hide gamepads until a physical button is pressed after the page opens.

Reconnect the controller

Reconnect USB, pair Bluetooth again or try another cable and port.

Calibrate the controller

Use the operating-system or console calibration utility, then repeat the test.

Check game deadzones

A larger in-game deadzone can hide minor drift but also reduces sensitivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Device Tests

• Gamepad Test — Check controller buttons, triggers, sticks and vibration.
• Keyboard Test — Check physical keys and simultaneous input.
• Complete Device Check — Run the complete browser-based hardware checklist.

Run the Complete Gamepad Test

Continue with full button, trigger, stick and vibration testing.

Open Gamepad Test